Media Release on the Department of Human Services Duty of Care

My experience with The Department of Human Services (DHS)

Media Release on The Department of Human Services duty of care by Gary Looney. Box 191. Menindee. NSW. 2879 – [email protected]

In January 2011 I rang centrelink about problems associated with the use of an Outback (DHS) Agency coordinated by Central Darling Shire as part of a contracted service. I requested to be able to ring Centrelink from a public phone in order to avoid any violence resulting from the use of the DHS Agency, the detail of which I provided Centrelink. Centrelink flatly refused to allow me to use a public phone, demanded I use the DHS Agency. After 3 calls to different Centrelink staff my request to use a public phone was forcefully denied on each. Outback town DHS Agencies, have a Centrelink phone in a Shire building Coordinated by Shire staff. Appointment time information is mailed to client, who must attend the phone at the stated time to receive a phone appointment from Centrelink. The Agency is also used by Employment Service Providers Attendance or ” Compliance validation” is monitored and reported by staff working for Central Darling Shire, these appointments are compulsory for client compliance of centrelink obligations. 3 March 2011 I emailed DEEWR and raised the DHS Agency issues again. ---------------------- On 27 July 2011 I attended The Hearing Program for the National Broadband Network, were I Meet Mr. Turnbull and Mr. Oakeshott. I also spoke, contributing to the Committee Hansard regarding NBN. On 28 July 2011 Central Darling Shires ordered that the Bus service which took me to cert 4 TAFE studies not pick me up until I paid $360 they claimed I owed them in Bus Fares to TAFE. The twist was that Central Darling Shire Council knowingly refused to tell me when asked specifically why the bus was not arriving to take me to TAFE, staff knowingly let me sit at the bus stop for days waiting, after they had removed me from the bus list & informed the driver not to pick me up for TAFE. Central Darling Shire had sent me a registered letter, possibly from our Shire Building 50 metres away. Shire did not inform me of this letter. The post office misplaced this letter in the post office for several weeks before giving me the letter which contained a bus service bill for $360 from Shire Council. A service solicited by “LETS Employment”. DEEWR had emailed me on the 21st February stating “LETS” Employment Contractor would pay the bus fare for the 2011 TAFE course. Reference: ESFS-045524 [email protected] From 28 July 2011 I could not afford the bus fare to finish the cert 4 year of TAFE, I had to cease TAFE and apply for unemployment payment. I could not afford to pay the unsolicited $360 Shire bus bill for previous TAFE trips. Centrelink made 2 phone appointments at the Shire, DHS Agency to apply for payment. Centrelink failed to keep these phone appointments leaving me waiting at the Agency for both days. Then when I rang Centrelink to ask why they never kept the appointments, Centrelink claimed I had breached compliance by not being present for a phone appointment at the DHS Agency. Further that the breach would result in a penalty waiting period without assistance. On 14 September 2011 I received a Centrelink letter CLK2LETTERA11424846001 stating your Newstart Allowance has been suspended because you did not attend an interview we arranged for you. I had no money or Government assistance for 2 months from 28 July 2011, until speaking to Minister Plibersek’s office about my experience on 21 September 2011. (Documented Reference: 2012-103064)

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In November 2011 I started feeling intense nausea and pain when lying on my right side in sleep or bending down to pick something up on my right, internal pain between top hip and bottom rib bone. On 12 December 2011 the Manager of Broken Hill Centerlink spoke with me and advised I was not required to use the Agent service in Menindee Central Darling Shire office. The Manager of Centrelink also stated being happy to take calls from a public telephone box. (Documented Reference: Department of Human Services letter C12/107 dated 11 April 2012) On 13 December 2011 I received a Sureway Employment & Training letter- REF: 9643460003/SCIWEP/JR2515 stating a required appointment to enter into an Employment Pathway Plan on 21 December 2011 I specifically wanted/requested to enter into an Employment Pathway Plan that resolved the problems associated with the use of our shire coordinated (DHS) Agency for Sureway meetings & ph interviews. I had already raised these issues with DEEWR and Human Services who continued enforcing Agency use. Whilst in Broken Hill I went to Sureway for my appointment. I was told by the interviewer that no contact was made by any department in regards to any alternative for appointments other then the continued use of Shire (DHS) Agency and phone. I explained I could not sign into an Employment Pathway Plan that forced me to use a service of malice and intimidation. No discussion for alternatives was offered and I could not sign. On 6 January 2012 I received a Centrelink letter CLK2LETTERA117564045001 stating: Our records show that you may not have met one of the conditions for receiving your payment. This is because you did not enter into an Employment Pathway Plan. ...Manager BROKEN HILL Centrelink. On 13 January 2012 I received a centrelink letter CLK2LETTERA117724323001 stating:

• Your Newstart Allowance has been cancelled from 02 December 2011 because we have not received your Reporting Statement (Application for Payment).

• Your Health Care Card is valid until 01 December 2011. Please destroy this card immediately after this date.

The reason why Centrelink did not receive an application for payment form for the period 02 December 2011 to 29 December 2011 is because Centrelink did not send me the form described. The Reporting Statement (Application for Payment): I received from Centrelink “CLK2SU019 A116610571002” Stated: “You are reporting for the period Friday 02 December 2011 to Thursday 23 February 2012” On 24 January 2012 I had to cancel my Dental appointment of that day as my Health Care Card was canceled by Centrelink on 01 December 2011. I was still suffering from previous symptoms and had no Health Care Card for treatment. On 28 January 2012 I received a Centrelink letter CLK1LETTERA107519468 You need to be available for a Customer Service Adviser to call you on: Date: 25 March 2011 Telephone number: 8091 4222 This letter was from Broken Hills Centrelink Manager, directing the use of Central Darling Shire Centrelink Agency and Phone. Contrary to the Managers previous stated position 12 December 2011.

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On 2 February 2012 I received a Centrelink letter CLK2LETTERA118315784001 After careful consideration about how you did not enter into an Employment Pathway Plan on 16 December 2011, a decision has been made that you have a reasonable excuse for your actions. ...Manager BROKEN HILL Centrelink On 17 February 2012 I attended Broken Hill Centrelink for Appointment of that day requested in the Centrelink letter CLK2LETTERA118482900001. The interviewer had a copy of a faxed list of request from me relating to the use of centrelink Agent service in Menindee and other related problems dated 16/2/12. I also had a copy for the meeting. The Centrelink interviewer said we “Centrelink” will meet all the listed requirements of your letter. “A COPY OF THIS LETTER OF AGREEMENT IS PROVIDED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE 4 of 5“ Thursday 26th July 2012 I was in Broken Hill for a medical check on the day my Unemployment form was due and hand delivered the form to Broken Hill Centrelink. (Same Interviewer as above) The Centrelink interviewer stated I had an appointment in a month’s time and I would attend the Broken Hill office. I stated I would go home and read the letter first, to which the interviewer stated forcefully that I did not have a phone so will be attending the appointment in Broken Hill. Note: Broken Hill is 110km from Menindee, costs $15 in Bus fare & takes a full day returning at 5PM. ----------------------------- Human Services Duty of Care As stated I have suffered an ongoing medical condition from November 2011. My Centrelink payment and Health Care card was cancelled for 2 months (From 2 December 2011 to the 2 February 2012) Prior to this I had no income for 2 months from 28 July 2011, until speaking to Minister Plibersek’s office about my experience on 21 September 2011. Kidney colic (hereditary disease) stones gouging the ureters, nausea, vomiting, chills and fever Recently I have explained my symptoms in detail to my mother who explained she had Kidney stones and that my father was a sufferer of gout, I explained to my Mother how I pass stones frequently over years and had wondered if it was normal, with that my Mother suggested I look under Kidney Stones in her Readers Digest medical book. I found my symptoms fitted the descriptions given under Uric acid and cystine stones very accurately. Nausea and pain to the right hand side still persists intermittently today causing poor sleep & wellbeing. Wednesday 25th July 2012 I went to Broken Hill Hospital Out patience to have my condition diagnosed and seek help, the Dr. said he suspects it could possibly be kidney colic. I am booked for the next available scan for which there is an 8 week waiting list. My Experience After raising complaints about a Department of Human Services outback Agency, Centrelink has continued with deliberate malice intent in defense of Agency, in contradiction of verbal guarantees. I ask the malice from these departments and supporters cease immediately. I include copies of documents given to Centrelink and Sureway Employment Service. Centrelink has promised and failed to meet these conditions. Sureway Employment has not responded. These documents are to be signed and returned to me by Centrelink & Sureway Employment in agreement and practice of the conditions. Do not assume your treatment is that of all. Be human. I would like to follow through with medical treatment and complete my Cert4 year in Web Design.

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16/2/2012 From: Gary Looney Box 191, Menindee. NSW. 2879 Centrelink Reference: 303 863 323L To be shared for immediate resolution with: DEEWR Centrelink Employment Service Providers Human Services This letter was initially faxed to Centrelink (Broken Hill office) For those unaware, I was left without unemployment benefit for 7 weeks last year because of an unaccountable remote centrelink service coordinated by a Central Darling Shire Council employee. Further I have no income for bills since Suspension from Newstart from the 2 nd of December 2011 relating to the refusal to use this central darling shire office, whilst Centrelink continued to direct it use in appointments without a resolution. This matter remains unaddressed, any incompatibility or inflexibility between parties to resolve this issue is not my fault or responsibility. I request from Centrelink, in writing that Gary Looney: 1/ will not be asked to use the Central Darling Shire Council, Rural Transaction Centre office in Menindee by DEEWR, Centrelink, Employment Service Providers or others on behalf of these bodies to provide service. 2/ will be allowed to use a public phone for all interviews other than those necessary in Broken Hill were transport costs of client will be considered. 3/ will not be asked or pressured to have a private phone, or use someone else’s phone. 4/ will receive newly written appointments and newly written Employment Pathway Plan which include and meet the above criteria. Disappointedly Gary Looney

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To: The Manager- (Sureway Employment and Training) Employment Service Provider. July 17 2012

I have received a letter “303 863 323L/Q999/ROW/NSS/BKN” from the Manager of Broken Hill Centrelink, in which an offer is made that I could meet with yourself and the Manager of Centrelink in Menindee on the 17th or Broken Hill on the 19th of July to discuss the change to my activity test requirements from the 1 Aug 12.

Your office (Sureway) has sent me an appointment for 2nd Aug, REF: 9643460003/SCIWEP/MP2542 where I trust these matters can be discussed with XXXX XXXXX or yourself as required. In February 2012 I wrote the following letter and faxed it to Centrelink, latter on arrival at Centrelink the department stated that they would meet all listed requirements. I ask that Sureway supplies written assurance that I can finally complete the Cert 4 web design course previously studied for before being forced to withdraw after problems with my previous Service Provider “LETS” and that Sureway can also meet the bellow requirements agreed to by Centrelink before our 2nd of Aug meeting. “Please return a signed copy of this document with your reply as acknowledgment of receipt”.

From: Gary Looney (originally written on 16/2/2012) Box 191, Menindee. NSW. 2879. Centrelink Reference: XXX XXX XXXX To be shared for immediate resolution with: DEEWR, Centrelink, Employment Service Providers, Human Services This letter was initially faxed to Centrelink (Broken Hill office) For those unaware, I was left without unemployment benefit for 7 weeks last year because of an unaccountable remote centrelink service, coordinated by a Central Darling Shire Council employee. Further I have no income for bills since Suspension from Newstart from the 2nd of December 2011 relating to the refusal to use this central darling shire office, whilst Centrelink continued to direct it use in appointments without a resolution. This matter remains unaddressed, any incompatibility or inflexibility between parties to resolve this issue is not my fault or responsibility. I request from Sureway, in writing that Gary Looney:

1/ will not be asked to use the Central Darling Shire Council, Rural Transaction Centre office in Menindee by DEEWR, Centrelink, Employment Service Providers or others on behalf of these bodies to provide service.

2/ will be allowed to use a public phone for all interviews other than those necessary in Broken Hill were transport costs of client will be considered.

3/ will not be asked or pressured to have a private phone, or use someone else’s phone.

4/ will receive newly written appointments and newly written Employment Pathway Plan which include and meet the above criteria.

Gary Looney

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Media Release on the Department of Human Services Duty of Care

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